Ohio History Journal

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REMINISCENCES OF A PIONEER

REMINISCENCES OF A PIONEER.

 

 

EDITED BY CLEMENT L. MARTZOLFF, B. PED.

 

 

[The following reminiscences are from the pen of a Highland county

pioneer, one Thomas Rogers, who as the recital reveals, was born a Vir-

ginian, and at the close of the American Revolution, moved with his

family to Kentucky and thence in 1795 with the Massie party journeyed

to Paint Creek, vicinity of Chillicothe, and there abided. This recital

of the scenes of early times, in Ohio, is worthy of preservation and perusal,

as it is a narrative at first hand, picturing the every day life of the prim-

itive times and pioneer settlers, written by one, who though at the time

of writing was nearly ninety years of age, had clear and vivid recollections

of the long ago. This interesting document was secured for publication

by Prof. C. L. Martzolff, Athens, Ohio, who has added to the value of the

"reminiscences" by his editorial notes. -E.O. R.]

 

GREENFIELD, (O.) Nov. 3, 1871.

This day I, Thomas Rogers, Sr., seat myself to write a short

sketch of my life and (of) my forefathers.

I was born, 1782, in Loudon County, Virginia, on Goose

Creek. My father, William     Rogers, took what was called a

thru life1 lease on a large tract of land some ten or twelve years

before my day. At that time the country was under British rule;

but at the close of the Revolutionary War the country fell into

new hands and my father's title to his land was disputed, and

the exact manner in which it was settled I am not able to state

at this distant period.  But the result was, two large slave hold-

ers settled on each side of him and so angered him with their

barbarous treatment of their slaves that he began to meditate on

a move to some other part.

In the fall of 1783 or 84, I think it was, my father and two

of the brothers took a trip over the mountains to the Redstone

or Monongahela country to seek a new home. At that time they

heard of the great cane lands in Kentucky as they met with some

that had visited it, and were beating up for volunteers to join

 

1A three life lease covered three generations or 99 years.

(190)